Carved Colt a Sharp Shooter

Description:Different wars can still have connections. How can today's Olympic shooting teams trace their origins back to the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s? How did a Pākehā volunteer soldier fighting Māori in Taranaki come to have his revolver carved in a traditional Māori pattern?

Questions for students

What is the connection between the New Zealand Wars and modern shooting competitions?

What were the two 'sides' of the wars in Taranaki? What did each side want? How did they view each other?

What is the history of the Colt Navy Revolver in Te Papa's collection? Who owned it? What is unusual about it?

The curator says, 'relationships can sometimes get a bit complex.' Discuss what we understand now about the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s. What more recent world events could you compare these wars with?

Warfare and arms have their own specialised vocabulary. Identify some words and terms used in this Tale. Use the 'Words' response template to record and explore their derivations and meanings.